More Fascinating Creatures of the Sea (Every Other Tuesday)

Hello fellow Marine Biologists! It’s Tuesday, and you know what that means! Yes, it’s time for us to go on another marine adventure. Now, let’s dive!

Nautilus (Nautilus pompilius) Size: The shell can be a maximum of 8 in Typically found in: Tropical open waters up to 1,600 ft

The Nautilus is an absolutely incredible type of Cephalopod. The five remaining species started as a numerous group nearly 65 million years ago. They are commonly referred to as “living fossils” due to the nearly non-existant change in anatomy. The creature has a hard shell as a defense against predators, and uses its 90 tentacles to catch prey. It moves through the water using jet propulsion and lays about twelve eggs per year.

Giant Brain Coral (Colpophyllia natans) Diameter: Up to a whopping 16 ft Depths Found: 3-180 ft in the seaward side of coral reefs

This incredibly strange species of coral has an very long life span that extends 100 years. It is named after the brain shaped ridges and long valleys that run along its top. The colonies attract a lot of tourists, and some small fish, like gobies, make a permanent home in its massive frame.